GB2286820A

GB2286820A - Collapsible boxes

Info

Publication number: GB2286820A
Application number: GB9403550A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Rowlinson
Original assignee: ROWLINSON PACKAGING Ltd
Current assignee: ROWLINSON PACKAGING Ltd
Priority date: 1994-02-24
Filing date: 1994-02-24
Publication date: 1995-08-30
Also published as: GB9403550D0

Abstract

A collapsible box structure which can be used as a load container on a pallet (1) has a sleeve (4) made from hinged panels which, when erected, fits at one end within the rim (8) of a bottom lid (3). The sleeve (4) is fixed to the rim (8) and held erected by clips (10) which have flaps which extend through aligned apertures in the rim (8) and the end region of the sleeve (4). When the clips (10) are released the sleeve (4) can be collapsed, by folding inwardly at hinge joints (19) in the middle of two opposite side walls (6), to give a flat package which can be stored between the bottom lid (3) and a slightly larger top lid (2). The lids (2, 3) can be locked together at their rims (8, 9) with the clips (10). <IMAGE>

Description

BOXES This invention relates to box structures, particularly although not exclusively for use on pallets.

Pallets provide load- supporting surfaces for transport and storage purposes. It is known to provide box structures which can be used as load containers on pallets.

An object of the invention is to provide a box structure which can be used as a sturdy load container yet which is of simple and inexpensive construction and can be readily disassembled for convenient storage and transport when not in use.

According to the invention therefore there is provided a box structure comprising a collapsible sleeve and at least one lid with a rim thereto, the sleeve being collapsible to pack within the rim of the lid and being erectable to form interconnected side walls which fit at one end region within the rim of the lid, clips being provided releasably to join the rim and the said one end region of the side walls so as to hold the sleeve erected, said clips comprising movable flanges passed through aligned apertures in the side walls and the rim.

With this arrangement a sturdy box structure can be assembled from a simple and inexpensive construction and, when desired, the structure can be disassembled for convenience of storage and transport.

The box structure may be particularly suitable for use mounted on a pallet, although the invention is not intended to be restricted to this field of application and the box structure may be used for any suitable purpose in any suitable context.

Preferably there are two rimmed lids, one to fit at the top end region and the other at the bottom end region of the erected side walls and in this case the rim of each lid may be releasably joinable to the side walls using clips as aforesaid.

With regard to the collapsible sleeve this may be formed by multiple side walls interconnected by hinges or pivots defined by fold lines or hinge or pivot mechanisms or otherwise, at least one such side wall being internally hinged or pivoted (i.e. between its opposite side edges) so that it can fold inwardly. Preferably, there are at least four side walls with two opposite such side walls being internally hinged or pivoted whereby the sleeve can be collapsed to a flat or substantially flat package which preferably fits within the confines of the rim of the lid.

Preferably also two lids are provided as mentioned above and one such lid is slightly larger than the other so as to fit over and around the smaller lid whereby the collapsed sleeve can be held between the two lids.

In this case preferably the lids can be locked together with the said clips.

With regard to the clips preferably these are insertable and removable and movable between locking and free positions, by manipulation from the outer side only.

Most preferably the clips are of a known kind comprising an insert with a central opening containing two hinged flanges movable between a release position at which they extend along and within the opening and a locked position at which they snap-fit together and extend beyond the opening and transversely thereto. In the release position the insert can be pushed through the aligned apertures of the respective side wall and lid, and in the locked position the flanges overly the rear side of the side wall whilst a lip of the insert overlies the front side of the lid.

The box structure may be formed from any suitable rigid or semi-rigid sheet material or combination of such materials including wood, fibreboard, plastics, cardboard. For example, the top lid (where provided) may be formed from riveted plywood, corrugated fibreboard, corrugated plastics (e.g. as sold under the trade mark Correx), or plastics sheeting. The sleeve may be formed from rivetted plywood, corrugated fibreboard or corrugated plastics (e.g. Correx). The bottom lid (where provided) may be formed from the same material as the top lid. The clips may be formed from plastics.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of one form of a box structure according to the invention shown in assembled condition on a pallet; Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a detail of the box structure in Section; Fig. 3 is an enlarged front view of a clip of the box structure; and Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the box structure in a collapsed condition.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows an assembled box structure mounted on top of a conventional wooden pallet 1. The box structure is made from a sturdy inexpensive rigid sheet material such as corrugated card or fibreboard (e.g. a sandwich of three layers of card with two layers of card corrugation therebetween).

The box structure has top and bottom lids 2, 3 with a sleeve 4 comprising four rectangular or square side walls 5, 6 interconnected by fold lines 7 or hinges at upright corners. The lids 2, 3 are rectangular (of like dimensions to the top of the pallet) with a rim 8 projecting vertically upwards in the case of the bottom lid 3 and a rim 9 downwards in the case of the top lid 2. The sleeve 4 fits within and in close contact with each rim 8, 9.

The side walls 5, 6 are joined to the lids 2, 3 by means of clips 10 extending through aligned apertures 11, 12 in the rims 2, 3 and the top and bottom edges of the side walls 5, 6. As can be seen, each long edge has two clips 10 and each short edge has one clip 10 whereby in total there are twelve clips.

The clips 10 are one-piece plastics mouldings comprising a hollow insert 13 with a lip 14 around an outer end thereof. At the opposite inner end there are two hinged flaps 15, 16. The flaps are movable between a locking position, at which they extend transversely across the inner end of the insert 13, and a free position at which they lie side-by-side within the insert 13. The flaps 15, 16 are held in the locking position by interengagement of springy arms 17 on one flap 16 within a receiving structure 18 on the other flap 15. The arms 17 can be released from the receiving structure 18 by pinching these together.

In the free position of the flaps 15, 16 the insert 13 can be inserted through the aligned apertures 11, 12 until the lip 14 abuts the outer surface of the rim 8, 9 and the inner end of the insert 13 projects just beyond the inner surface of the side wall 5, 6. If the flaps 15, 16 are now moved into the locking position they overly the inner surface of the side wall 5, 6 so that the side wall 5, 6 and the rim 8, 9 are held captive between the flaps 15, 16 and the lip 14.

With the clips locked, the box structure is strong and secure.

The two opposite side walls 6 along the shorter edges have internal vertical fold lines centrally of such walls 6. With the clips 10 released, these side walls 6 can be folded inwardly at such fold lines 19 bringing the other two side walls 5 towards each other until the sleeve 4 is folded flat.

The flat-folded sleeve 4 can then be packed into the bottom lid 3 and can be retained in position by placing the rim 9 of the top lid 2 over the rim 8 of the bottom lid 3. The top lid 2 is slightly larger than the bottom lid 3 so that the rim 8 of the top lid 2 fits closely on the outside of the rim 8 of the bottom lid 3 with the six clip apertures 11 in the top lid 2 aligned with the six apertures 11 in the bottom lid 3.

The lids 2, 3 can then be secured together by insertion of six clips 10 through the aligned lid apertures 11. The other six clips 10 can be stored within the lids with the flat-folded sleeve 4.

With this arrangement the box structure can be collapsed to a conveniently storable and transportable fold-flat, locked package.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which are described by way of example only.

Claims

1. A box structure comprising a collapsible sleeve and at least one lid with a rim thereto, the sleeve being collapsible to pack within the rim of the lid and being erectable to form interconnected side walls which fit at one end region within the rim of the lid, clips being provided releasably to join the rim and the said one end region of the side walls so as to hold the sleeve erected, said clips comprising movable flanges passed through aligned apertures in the side walls and the rim.

2. A box structure according to claim 1 wherein there are two rimmed lids, one to fit at the top end region and the other at the bottom end region of the erected side walls.

3. A box structure according to claim 2 wherein the rim of each lid is releasably joinable to the side walls using further said clips.

4. A box structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the sleeve is formed by multiple side walls interconnected by hinges or pivots, at least one such side wall being internally hinged or pivoted so that it can fold inwardly.

5. A box structure according to claim 4 wherein there are at least four side walls with two opposite said walls being internally hinged or pivoted as aforesaid so that the sleeve can be collapsed to a flat package.

6. A box structure according to claim 5 when dependent on claim 2 wherein one lid is slightly larger than the other so as to fit over and around the smaller lid with the said flat package held therebetween.

7. A box structure according to claim 6 wherein the said lids can be locked together with the said clips.

8. A box structure according to any one of claims 4 to 7 wherein the, or each hinge or pivot joint is defined by fold lines.

9. A box structure according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein each clip is of the kind comprising an insert with a central opening containing two hinged flanges movable between a release position at which they extend along and within the opening and a locked position at which they snap-fit together and extend beyond the opening and transversely thereto.

10. A box structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.